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The fires and smoke to the north of me in Central California means I try to go directly east or southeast into the mountains for my Sunday ride. This Sunday, I decided to push it farther up. Just past Huntington Lake at about 7500 feet is a little road called Kaiser Pass Rd. The last four miles is single lane, bumpy, twisty and very VERY steep in spots. Actually not really much better than a dirt road. About half way up the narrow section, I was thinkin' to myself, "this isn't smart." But, I kept going till I got to the top of the pass.
There isn't much road past that. It tops out at 9184 feet. As a crow flies, it's probably less than 30 miles to Mammoth Ski area on the other side of the SIerras. In between....wilderness. And bears. And mountain lions.
It's been 25 years since I was last up this road. That was when I was a serious bicyclist and rode up there on my bike during the annual "Climb to Kaiser" challenge ride. 150 mile round trip to the pass and back to the valley floor, taking side roads with heinous climbs, with some of them about 18%. Once complete, I could say "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, and never EVER again!"
We are seeing the smoke from those fires at high altitudes here in Michigan. The sun shine isn't as clear as it was a week ago, more hazy. Be careful heading up into mountain areas.
We are in Colorado vacationing and the haze is thick, like a heavy fog. The locals say it's from the fires. We were here two years ago and it was clear as a bell. What a difference.
It is sad MrFreeze. It is an extremely unfortunate result of over management. Enviro-zealots just can't seem to see the forest for the trees.
I am 100% behind conservation, but there are way too many trees per acre in a lot of areas. In some areas 5 times as dense as it would be in nature. Natural fires can't burn because of people living in the area, as well as "protecting" endangered species. The result of the extra fuel is fires burn way hotter and spread much faster.
Lots of good folks lost everything. Several firefighters lost their lives.
On a positive note, the biggest fires in Nor Cal are approaching full containment, and air is beginning to clear.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
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Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Going High
